Select Local Merchants

Dogs romp around 7,500 square feet of cushioned rubber flooring, nuzzling with new friends and learning off-leash etiquette like every toddler eventually must. This is the scene at Performance Plus K9 Activity Center during its Perfect Pups pet obedience course, a seven-week program that teaches pooches aged 8–18 weeks how to respond to easy commands and respect owners' homes. It's just one of the obedience courses that the dog-loving staff at Performance Plus offer—they also provide classes in competition obedience and agility. Plus, they recently added new services including grooming and boarding, so pups can stay all day.

For more than three decades, Hawkswood Farm has designed its leafy 45-acre parcel of land to be not just a place to ride horses, but also a calming escape from the bustle of daily life. There, riding enthusiasts of all skill levels can pair up with a friendly horse from the herd of more than 30, and enjoy their lessons in a private, semi-private, or group setting far away from hassles such as traffic on interstate highways or interstate horse trails. Lessons can cover both English and Western styles and take place on the farm's indoor ring, outdoor lighted rings, or, for more seasoned riders, the cross-country jump course.

Boasting indoor and outdoor play areas in a safe, entertaining, and well-monitored space, Ocean Dog Club presents social pups ages 4 months or older with a bevy of new playmates. Canines of all sizes and personalities band together in strategically tailored play groups, fostering a comfortable environment for exercise and carefree romping. A temperature-controlled indoor area claims a hefty 6,000 square feet sheltered from the elements, and an easy-to-clean, dog-specific turf covers 3,000 outdoor square feet of prime training grounds for biathletes to train for both tail-chasing and rollover events. Pups always happily mingle under the watchful eye of a professional daycare coach, who keeps four-leggers safe while their busy two-legged owners are away. Ocean Dog Club is open from 6:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This specialized kitty and doggie depot is a one-stop shop for all pet needs, including standard toys and treats, and an impressive selection of unusual merchandise. The stocked shelves include more than 200 stylish collars (many for $19.99), lovely leads ($19.99), and decorative bowls for dogs and cats (starting at $10.99).

Jack's specializes in all-natural and love-infused gourmet dog treats for hungry hounds and discerning dachshunds. Gift a greyhound a packet of Cesar’s Pizza Pies ($6.50)—miniature, pizza-flavored treats made on organic whole-wheat pastry flour—and watch the famished beast feast on the fresh oregano- and olive-oil-sprinkled treat, or satisfy a squirrel-chasing schnauzer with a packet of squirrel-shaped, peanut-butter-infused Jack’s Nuts About Squirrels ($6.50). If Jack's extensive display of doggy delicacies inspires your culinary creativity, grab a jar of Jack’s Favorite Snack ($11.95), a take-home mix that comes with step-by-step instructions and a bone-shaped cookie cutter so you can serve up your terrier’s favorite treat fresh from the oven.

Sweet Meadow Farm is not just a kid-friendly equestrian center. Sure, their experienced instructors lead private and group horseback-riding lessons year-round, but the farm also houses an interactive barnyard zoo. Their menagerie of domestic and exotic animals ranges from miniature horses and potbelly pigs to peacocks and kangaroos. Sweet Meadow Farm hosts birthday parties, too, during which kids can meet new critter friends inside the air-conditioned barn and make up secret handshakes that do not require opposable thumbs.